Silverado mourns man killed in motorcycle crash

Editor's note: This story has been modified. Some details were removed after it was originally published at 2:34 p.m.

SILVERADO CANYON – This close-knit canyon community is reeling over the loss of a husband and father of three who crashed a friend's motorcycle early Saturday morning.

John Minor, known to most as John Black because he took his wife's last name, died Saturday. He was 44.

"He loved his family more than anything," said Angie Black, Minor's wife of 11 years. "No matter what struggles he had, his family was the most important thing to him."

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Minor was born Oct. 4, 1968. He grew up in Huntington Beach, lived in San Clemente for a time and moved to Silverado Canyon nearly eight years ago.

"We were looking for places, and we just found this house and we fell in love with it," said Black, who works at the Silverado Children's Center. "We both love nature and hiking and not having city lights. ... It was like this house was meant for us."

Minor worked "really, really, really hard" to support his family, Black said, commuting to Hawaiian Gardens where he'd worked his way up to a project manager with Hi-Tech Painting & Decorating.

"He went from a 19-year-old punk, skateboarding to work, to painting whole HOAs and high rises," Black said.

Minor also was active in canyon events, helping to organize a summer concert series. Though "Johnny," as she called him, wasn't much of a musician, Angie Black said her husband was one of a few locals who could play the "hillbilly bucket bass," where strings are attached to a bucket that serves as a resonator.

"He always had a twinkle in his eye, a smile and a willing heart," resident Mary Schreiber said. "John's death has had a profound effect on a lot of people."

Minor was dedicated to his children, his wife said, playfully joining in one of his daughter's ballet classes as he encouraged the kids to pursue their talents. He also liked to balance the girls on his hands, telling them not to be afraid of anything.

"He was the most amazing dad in the world," Black said. "People would almost be in tears watching him with his girls."

John and Angie eloped a dozen years ago, then had a wedding a year later at Crystal Cove. Though Minor was still his legal name, Angie said he started going by her last name of Black after they got married, since he'd never met his father.

The couple celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary Feb. 8, eight days before the crash.

Minor's motorcycle belonged to a neighbor, Black said. While he'd always talked about getting his own, she said Saturday was only the second time she'd known him to ride a motorcycle in the 13 years the couple was together.

The men lost control of their motorcycles and veered off the roadway onto the dirt shoulder, the CHP report states.

Minor crashed into a tree and was declared dead at the scene from blunt-force trauma. Taylor, an engineer, had some facial lacerations but declined medial aid, the CHP reported.

The CHP cited alcohol as a likely factor in the accidents, and the investigation continues.

Taylor was arrested after the crash, and cited and released Saturday afternoon.

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"We miss him," Black said, her voice steady but heavy with grief.

Minor is survived by his wife, Angie; daughters Chenoah, 9, and RaeLeeann, 4; and his stepson, Scott McClean, 16.

Services will be held Saturday at Calvary Chapel of the Canyons, 8002 Silverado Canyon Road. The funeral will start at 3 p.m. with a reception to follow immediately.

There is also a memorial service being planned at Silverado Community Center, though no date has been set. Bands will play as friends collect funds for the family.